Food & Wine - visit the producers: Chambave, Châtillon, Fénis, Verrayes

La Crotta di Vegneron Cooperative was founded in 1980 with about 25 members. Today, with more than 50 members, it has raised its production to 200.000 bottles. The Cooperative gathers the grapes of two important areas of production that give their name to the designations of origin Chambave (which also includes the municipalities of Châtillon, Saint Vincent, Saint Denis and Verrayes) and Nus (which also includes the municipalities of Quart and Fénis) .
Valle d’Aosta DOC (Controlled Designation of Origin) wines of our production grow in a mountain environment with steep slopes and very fragmented vineyards, whose exposure is mainly to the south. In our Cooperative, red grapes represent 40% of the total production, while white grapes represent 60%. Various types of wine are produced from these grapes, 15 (reds and whites) of which have the Valle d’Aosta DOC Denomination of Controlled Origin certificate, 2 spumanti with the brand ‘Quatremillemètres Vins d’altitude’, with a complete range of typologies, ranging from aperitif wines to dessert and “meditazione” wines (“meditazione” wines include sweet passito wines, red wines that have aged for a long time, or important red wines). The philosophy of La Crotta di Vegneron is markedly devoted to the enhancement of autochthonous grapevines such as Petit Rouge, Fumin, Vien de Nus as well as traditional ones such as Muscat de Chambave and Nus Malvoisie. The company’s production also focuses on vines with more international names such as Pinot Noir, Gamay and Müller Thurgau that are perfectly suited to our soils and to our climate. The altitude of the vineyards of La Crotta di Vegneron is significant: from 500 to 850 m a.s.l., the microclimate is quite peculiar with a low amount of rainfall and high average daytime temperatures as opposed to cool nights, almost cold in the summer. These morphological and climatic characteristics favor perfect ripening of the grapes and limit the attacks of parasites. As a consequence there is very little need for treatments, always carried out and planned with the utmost respect for the environment.

The products

DOC (Controlled Designation of Origin) white wines: Müller Thurgau, Pinot Noir vinified in white, Chambave Muscat, Nus Malvoisie, Chambave Muscat Attente, Chambave Muscat linea miniere, Nus Malvoisie « La Griffe des Lions »

Rosé wines: Rosé Merveille 

DOC red wines: Pinot Noir, Gamay, Chambave, Cornalin, Nus, Chambave Supérieur Quatre Vignobles, Syrah Crème, Fumin Esprit Follet, Fumin linea miniere, Fumin « La Griffe des Lions »

DOC straw wines: Chambave Moscato Passito Prieuré

Other products:
Spumante wines: VS Refrain® (white), VSQ 4478 Nobleffervescence®
Grappas: L’épouvantail Müller Thurgau, L’épouvantail Muscat Petit Grain, L’épouvantail Muscat Petit Grain Flétri, L’épouvantail Malvoisie, L’épouvantail Malvoisie Flétri, L’épouvantail Fumin, L’épouvantail de Petit Rouge.

There is a point of sale located in via Circonvallazione n°3 in Chambave (AO), open from Monday to Saturday from 10.30 am to 12.15 pm and from 3.00 pm to 6.45 pm, on Sundays from 2.30 pm to 6.30 pm.

The visit

The winery and the vineyards can be visited and groups can be received for tastings by prior reservation.
The company can be visited every day upon reservation.
Number of visitors required for a visit in the winery: minimum 4 people.
Languages spoken: Italian, French and English.

Accessibility

The point of sale is accessible to all. The property has toilets for disabled people.

How to get there

Going towards Aosta: 6.5 km from the Chatillon - Saint-Vincent motorway exit.

The farm has been operating since 1991, using exclusively organic methods and directly controlling each stage of the production process. Its philosophy is based on multi-functionality and rural tourism as important opportunities for growth and enhancement of the agricultural sector as they transmit, especially to young people, an image of the figure of the farmer who is attentive to the preservation of traditions and rural culture, but also open to the future through research and the implementation of sustainable agricultural systems that respect the environment.
The farm’s hillside location, on terraced fields with good exposure to the sun, allows for the production of fine single-flower honeys, the cultivation of small fruits and fruit trees, as well as the cultivation of vegetables in open fields or greenhouses, both for direct sale and for the processing of fruit and vegetables into jams and preserves. All products can be purchased from the farm shop (a notice by telephone is recommended).

Educational activities
1. Bees: social organisation and products of the hive (designed for tourists and families)
Through the direct observation with the aid of an educational beehive and a demonstration of the use of working tools, participants will be led to approach the world of bees and discover their secrets. In addition to the visit, it is possible to visit the beekeeping museum in Châtillon.

2. The organic vegetable garden and orchard (designed for schools)
Example of a vegetable growing cycle, with preparation of the soil, sowing and transplanting; recognition of the main fruit trees and their distinctive characteristics.

3. Solar energy and its various uses on the farm
The description and visit to the different areas of the farm will illustrate some topics such as photosynthesis, drying, greenhouse cultivation and the production of electrical energy through photovoltaic solar systems.

Period of activity and intended recipients
The activities are organised from March to October for schools and in summer for families and summer camps.

Welcoming capacity
Min. 10, max. 25 people. It is possible to use equipped outdoor spaces and, in case of bad weather, to use indoor spaces for the activities and to eat your packed lunch.

How to get there
Travelling along A5 motorway, exit at the Châtillon - Saint-Vincent tollgate and take the road S.S. 26 driving for 8 km towards Aosta until the roundabout in Champagne (Verrayes): turn left uphill on the regional road 42 (signposts for Verrayes - Colle San Pantaleone) and ascend for 4 km until you find the car park and a wooden sign for the hamlet of Cherolinaz.

The La Vrille holiday farm and winery (‘viticcio’ in Italian), located along the Via Francigena at 670 m asl, was founded in 2002 from a project dreamed of and conceived by Hervé, a former sailor and great-grandson of emigrants from Valle d’Aosta, who decided to return to the cultivation of his ancestors’ land and Luciana, a lover of life in the name of simplicity.
The vineyards, arranged in a natural amphitheater overlooking the Avic and Emilius mountains, are almost entirely cultivated with autochthonous vines such as Vuillermin, Petit Rouge, Cornalin and Fumin, with the one exception of Pinot Noir.
A large area is reserved for Muscat Petit Grain, used for the production of the historic Chambave Muscat, and for the award-winning Chambave MusctaFlétri, the company’s sweet wine.

The products
White DOC (Controlled Designation of Origin) wines: Chambave Muscat
Red DOC wines: Cornalin, Fumin, Chambave, Pinot noir, Vuillermin
DOC straw wine: Chambave Muscat Fletry

The sales point is open upon phone reservation.

The visit
It is possible to visit the winery and the vineyards. Several types of tastings can be booked, based on requests and the number of participants.
Cost of the tasting: to be agreed upon at the time of booking.
The company can be visited upon phone reservation (Hervé Deguillaume).
Languages spoken: Italian and French.

How to get there
Coming from the A5 motorway, exit at Nus. After approximately 5 km, at the first roundabout, turn left towards Verrayes. Go up for about 600 m, turn right towards “La Vrille agritourisme, Crétaz, Clapey, Grangeon”. Follow the small road that goes up for about 800 m.